Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country’s airspace was violated by a ‘huge number of Russian drones’ on Wednesday – some of which had posed a ‘direct threat.’
Earlier, Poland said that it and its NATO allies had shot down Russian drones that violated Polish airspace, in what it called an “act of aggression” as Russia launched aerial attacks on Ukraine
“This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens,” Poland’s Operation Command in said in a post on X on Wednesday morning.
It is the first time Poland has had to directly intercept a Russian asset in its airspace since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.
Poland’s armed forces were on a heightened state of alert overnight because of what they described as “further massive airstrikes against targets located in Ukraine”.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X that “more than 10 objects” crossed into Polish air space and those that constituted a risk to Poland’s security were neutralized. He thanked NATO Air Command and The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force for supporting the action with F-35 fighter jets.
Bernard Blaszczuk, mayor of the village of Wyryki in Lublin region, told Polish broadcaster TVP Info that a house was hit by “either a missile or a drone, we don’t know yet”.
He said people were inside the building but nobody was hurt.
Tusk confirmed a military response operation was underway “related to multiple violations of Polish airspace” and said “the military has used weapons against the objects”.
British Defence Secretary John Healey said on Wednesday: “Last night Putin took this aggression to a new level of hostility. A violation of Polish airspace deep enough for Warsaw airport to be closed and Nato jets forced directly to shoot down Russia’s drones while, of course, the attacks on Ukraine continue to intensify.
“Poland’s direct defensive military action last night is the first of its kind since Putin launched his illegal invasion in 2022. Minister Kosiniak Kamysz was rightly heading home to Poland very early this morning to deal with this attack.
“Russia’s actions are reckless, unprecedented and dangerous. We totally condemn these attacks, and we say to President Putin: Your aggression only strengthens the unity between Nato nations.
“And we will discuss this morning what additional support we can provide to Poland and we say to President Putin your aggression only strengthens our solidarity to stand with Ukraine. It reminds us that a secure Europe needs a strong, sovereign Ukraine.”
Poland is a member of Nato, a transatlantic alliance that employs the idea that an attack on one is an attack on all.
The Defence Minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, said that Poland was “in constant contact with Nato command”.
“Territorial Defense Forces have been activated for ground searches of downed drones,” he said.
He urged civilians to “remain calm” and said if anyone finds fragments from military equipment, they should report it to authorities.
The Polish armed forces said Wednesday morning that a search for possible crash sites is ongoing and urged people not to approach, touch or move any objects they see, warning that they may pose a threat and could contain hazardous material.
Warsaw’s Chopin Airport suspended flights for several hours, citing the closure of airspace due to military operations.
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